Traveling from Blacksburg to Summerville is a straightforward 196.5-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 44 minutes. Because you are traveling entirely within the Southeast region of South Carolina, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. You will spend roughly 72% of your time on highways, utilizing I-26, I-77, and the William Earle Berne Beltway to navigate the state. Budgeting approximately $31 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trek. Since the drive is under four hours, it works well as a direct trip without the need for an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time once you reach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.3 miles from Blacksburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
82.6 mi
1h 28m
I 77
53.5 mi
57m
William Earle Berne Beltway
12.3 mi
14m
Black Highway
9.6 mi
11m
York Highway
7.3 mi
8m
Alexander Love Highway
5.3 mi
6m
York Road
4.9 mi
5m
Charles F Bolden Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 82.6 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blacksburg, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on US 29
0.8 mi·1 min·West Cherokee Street
2
Turn right onto SC 5
1.6 mi·1 min·York Road
3
Continue on SC 5
0.7 mi·49 sec·York Highway
4
Continue on SC 5
3.3 mi·3 min·York Road
5
Continue on SC 5
1.7 mi·1 min·Kings Creek Drive
6
Continue on SC 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Black Highway
7
Turn left onto SC 5
5.3 mi·6 min·Alexander Love Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on SC 5
6.5 mi·7 min·York Highway
9
Continue on SC 5
2.3 mi·3 min·West Main Street
10
Turn right onto SC 901; SC 5
3.2 mi·5 min·Heckle Boulevard
11
Turn right onto SC 72; SC 901
0.3 mi·40 sec·Saluda Street
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on SC 901
3.1 mi·4 min·Mount Holly Road
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
14
Merge onto I 77
29 mi·31 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 77
24 mi·26 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
3.3 mi·4 min·Charles F Bolden Freeway
Toward I 77: CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 77
12 mi·14 min·William Earle Berne Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 77
2.8 mi·3 min·Veterans Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
20
Merge onto I 26
83 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 26
Use the right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 199AToward US 17 Alternate South: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·5 sec·East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the total transit time is less than four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns when navigating the William Earle Berne Beltway, as this is a key junction for your route. Because your fuel costs are estimated at $31, checking local gas prices before you hit the road can help you stick to your budget. Use that single planned stop as a mid-point break to stay refreshed for the final leg of your journey into Summerville.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.3 miles from Blacksburg, SC, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 43 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.3 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blacksburg, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blacksburg, SC
This is one driving day of about 196.5 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Blacksburg, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 82.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 194.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.8 mi into trip|~21m in|SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway
Turn left onto SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
35.2 mi into trip|~44m in|SC 72; SC 901 / Saluda Street
Turn right onto SC 72; SC 901 / Saluda Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
38.9 mi into trip|~50m in|I 77
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
92.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway toward I 77: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 77: Charleston
7
194.2 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.73 one way
$61.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$33.60
$67.20
premium
$4.70
$36.37
$72.74
diesel
$5.61
$43.38
$86.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.9
0
$20.63
$9.43
Efficient EV
49.1
0
$17.19
$7.86
EV Truck/SUV
78.6
0
$27.51
$12.58
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Blacksburg, SC
Late night
in Blacksburg on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, SC
Late night
in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
39 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Congaree National Park
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 128.8
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 196.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience that prioritizes efficiency over local backroads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the interstate, with the longest uninterrupted stretch spanning 82.6 miles on I-26. While the route is largely consistent, the transition between major interstates and the beltway requires you to stay alert during highway exchanges. With nearly three-quarters of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares, you can anticipate a fairly uniform driving experience from start to finish. This is an ideal route if you prefer a predictable, direct path rather than a winding scenic tour.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.6 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.8 miles in near SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 196.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.8 miles (SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles (SC 72; SC 901 / Saluda Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 196.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.6 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Summerville, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.8 miles (SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles (SC 72; SC 901 / Saluda Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park, Cowpens National Battlefield and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Summerville, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
